paid-mcp-starter

Ready-to-use templates for monetizing MCP servers. Choose your path — from no-code to full DIY.

Overview

This repo provides a sample MCP server and three monetization approaches so you can compare and pick the right one for your use case.

paid-mcp-starter/
├── server/                    # Sample MCP server (the thing being monetized)
├── monetize-with-xpay/        # Path 1: No-code — easiest
├── monetize-with-x402/        # Path 2: x402 protocol — crypto payments
├── monetize-with-stripe/      # Path 3: Stripe — traditional billing
└── docs/                      # Comparison & pricing guides

Comparison

Feature	xpay✦	x402 (DIY)	Stripe
Setup time	~2 min	~30 min	2+ hours
Code required	None	~50 lines	~200 lines
Payment methods	Fiat + crypto	Crypto (USDC)	Fiat only
Per-tool pricing	Yes	Yes	Yes (metered)
Customer portal	Included	Build yourself	Build yourself
Pricing	5% platform fee	Gas fees only	2.9% + $0.30

Quick Start

1. Run the Sample Server

cd server
npm install
npm start

This starts an MCP server with three demo tools: text_summarize, sentiment_analyze, and keyword_extract.

2. Choose a Monetization Path

• No-code with xpay✦ — Paste your server URL, set prices, done. Best for getting started fast.
• x402 protocol — Wrap your server with x402 payment gates. Best for crypto-native, decentralized payments.
• Stripe billing — API key auth with Stripe metered billing. Best for traditional SaaS billing.

3. Learn More

• Side-by-side comparison — Detailed feature comparison
• Pricing guide — How to price your MCP tools

The Sample Server

The sample MCP server in server/ provides three tools:

Tool	Description	Example Use
text_summarize	Summarizes input text	Condensing long documents
sentiment_analyze	Analyzes text sentiment	Customer feedback analysis
keyword_extract	Extracts key terms	SEO, content tagging

These are intentionally simple but realistic — the kind of tools worth charging for.

Resources

• Awesome MCP Monetization — Curated list of MCP monetization tools and resources
• MCP Specification — Official Model Context Protocol spec
• x402 Protocol — HTTP 402 payment protocol by Coinbase

License

MIT